Can elderly COPD be cured?
Can elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease be cured?
The full name of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Long-term chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract causes persistent airflow limitation in the bronchi and lungs, resulting in symptoms such as cough, sputum, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and dyspnea. COPD is like a "slow knife" hidden in the body, usually 5 to 10 years after the onset of symptoms will appear obvious symptoms. However, once discovered, the condition of most patients has been relatively serious, and even died of respiratory failure.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cannot be cured
Clinically, COPD is more common in the elderly. However, some elderly patients may only have mild symptoms such as cough, sputum, and chest tightness in the early stage, or even mild dyspnea; when the condition gradually worsens, the patient will have obvious and persistent symptoms of dyspnea, and even pulmonary encephalopathy And involving liver and kidney.
COPD can be relieved, but not completely cured. The characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is that it gets worse every autumn and winter, and it may cause more serious complications, such as respiratory failure, when the resistance is poor and respiratory tract infection. Therefore, COPD in the elderly should be actively treated. However, the elderly and young people have different tolerance to drugs. For example, 40-50-year-old patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can achieve good curative effect with hormones; profit. Therefore, great attention must be paid to elderly patients with COPD, and appropriate clinical treatment such as anti-infection, cough and phlegm, asthma and oxygen inhalation can be given to relieve the discomfort of patients and improve the quality of life of patients.
Currently only smoking cessation can stop the progression of the disease
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are seriously ill in the acute exacerbation stage, often complicated by heart failure, respiratory failure, and even pulmonary encephalopathy. Therefore, they should go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment by a respiratory physician, and hospitalization if necessary.
However, patients need not be too pessimistic. Although COPD is irreversible, it is controllable. As long as it is properly maintained, smoking cessation is successful, and supportive therapy is used to prevent the disease from progressing, it is possible to improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time. This is also the reason why some COPD patients live longer.
Patient Care Nine Attentions
During the acute exacerbation period, anti-infection treatment should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor. Pay attention to oxygen inhalation, and the blood oxygen saturation is required to reach more than 92%. If oxygen is inhaled at home, the flow should be low and high concentrations should not be used.
If the airway is blocked, carbon dioxide is not easily discharged, and hypercapnia will occur. At this time, only oxygen inhalation is not enough, and a ventilator must be used to quickly discharge carbon dioxide.
Do not go out in foggy days. The main components of smog are various floating particles and fine particles, especially fine particles (PM2.5) with small diameters, which can enter the lower respiratory tract or even alveoli with breathing, which is extremely harmful to the human body. Someone has done a special study and found that PM2.5 has a great relationship with the outpatient volume of COPD clinics, which can aggravate COPD, even lead to acute exacerbation of the disease and reduce lung function.
Avoid going to crowded places, including chess and card rooms, vegetable markets and crowded tourist attractions. Crowded places are usually places where bacteria meet. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have low immunity in the respiratory tract, and are prone to infection with germs, which can aggravate airway inflammation. In addition, COPD patients with stable conditions can travel, but try not to choose places that are cold in the northwest and have a slightly higher altitude. Moist and warm air is good for the lungs.
Quit smoking and drinking. Tobacco and alcohol damage the lungs. Not only can patients not smoke, but they are not suitable for social gatherings with many people and smoking. The impact of second-hand smoke on the human body is no less than that of smoking itself, which should be paid special attention to.
Pay attention to rest and nutrition. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a systemic wasting disease, which may lead to a decline in people's ability to eat and drink, and abnormal body weight loss. The global treatment guidelines for COPD point out that the life expectancy of obese patients with COPD is generally higher than that of thin patients. Being thin and having insufficient respiratory muscle strength will aggravate the hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention in COPD, making the condition more serious.
Avoid spicy and allergic food. Spicy food can stimulate the upper respiratory tract, destroy local immunity, cause upper respiratory tract infection, and aggravate COPD. Frequent consumption of foods that are prone to allergies may aggravate the condition of COPD and reduce the effect of drugs.
Get pneumonia and flu shots. The most important thing in COPD is to prevent and avoid infections, especially colds and pneumonia. Pneumonia and flu shots can help prevent infection.
If there are complications, they should be treated according to the complications. For example, diuretics should be used for comprehensive and targeted treatment for heart failure. During the acute exacerbation period, medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor, and hospitalization should be carried out if necessary.
Text/Li Cuiying Jiangyou Second People's Hospital
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